Understanding Color/Color models | Index | Home |
The Munsell color system and the Ostwald color system |
This system was proposed by the American A. H. Munsell in 1905 and revised in 1943. It defines three attributes of color: H (hue), C (chroma), and V (value = luminosity). |
Hue is divided into five basic colors: red (R), yellow (Y), green (G), blue (B), and purple (P), with a second dimension between each color, having 10 grades. Value is defined in 11 steps from white to black, and chroma is separated into 15 degrees. A single color is described with the formula (hue value/luminosity). A brilliant red, for example, would be 5R 4/14. |
This system was proposed by the German scientist Ostwald. It assumes 8 hues, with 4 basic colors: yellow, ultramarine blue, red, and sea green. These are further subdivided to produce a color wheel of 24 colors. |